Tunable low cost network

ABSTRACT

Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, for example, a method comprising providing services over a network to a device, and constructing device capability and usage profiles. A level of service quality for the device is adjusted by adjusting a latency criterion regarding connection of the device to the network; adjusting a speed of transmissions to or from the device; and altering a routing of transmissions to or from the device. The network can be partitioned so that the adjusted service quality level is provided by a network portion having a predetermined level of resources. The adjusted service quality level can comprise a first level while the device is active and a second level while the device is inactive; the first level is higher than the second level. The first and second levels are lower than a service quality level provided by another network portion. Other embodiments are disclosed.

FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE

The subject disclosure relates to a communication network that connectsto a variety of devices and provides network services to those devicesat reduced cost.

BACKGROUND

A very wide variety of devices with differing device capabilities mayconnect to a communication network at various times and for variouspurposes (for example, a sensor periodically transmitting small amountsof data to a computing device). A network that includes such devices issometimes referred to as the “Internet of things” (IOT).

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings, which are notnecessarily drawn to scale, and wherein:

FIG. 1 schematically illustrates IOT devices connecting to a tunablenetwork, according to an embodiment of the disclosure;

FIG. 2 depicts network utilization in a case where a device withallowable latency connects to the network of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 schematically illustrates IOT devices connecting to a partitionednetwork, according to an embodiment of the disclosure;

FIG. 4 shows a flowchart illustrating a method for configuring a tunablenetwork to provide services to IOT devices, according to an embodimentof the disclosure;

FIG. 5 shows a flowchart illustrating a procedure in which a device isin active and inactive states over a period of time, according to anembodiment of the disclosure;

FIGS. 6-7 depict illustrative embodiments of communication systems thatprovide media services using the networks of FIGS. 1-3;

FIG. 8 depicts an illustrative embodiment of a web portal forinteracting with communication systems as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3;

FIG. 9 depicts an illustrative embodiment of a communication device; and

FIG. 10 is a diagrammatic representation of a machine in the form of acomputer system within which a set of instructions, when executed, maycause the machine to perform any one or more of the methods describedherein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The subject disclosure describes, among other things, illustrativeembodiments for a communication network connected to multiple diversedevices that require different network services and whose requirementsalso change with time, and a method for configuring the network to meetthose requirements. The network services can be dynamically adjusted foreach end-user device to provide the required services at minimum cost.The exemplary embodiments described herein are related to methods and/orsystems described in U.S. application Ser. No. 14/515,004 (U.S. PatentApplication Publication No. 2016/0113025), the disclosure of which ishereby incorporated by reference. Other embodiments are described in thesubject disclosure.

One or more aspects of the subject disclosure include a methodcomprising providing, by a processing system including a processor,communications services over a network to a user device; obtaininginformation regarding capabilities of the user device; and obtaininginformation regarding a usage profile of the user device. The usageprofile can include a periodic time interval during which the userdevice is in an active state; the user device is in an inactive state atother times. The method can also comprise adjusting a level of servicequality provided to the user device, in accordance with at least one ofthe capabilities and the usage profile. The adjusting can be performedby at least one of adjusting a latency criterion regarding connection ofthe user device to the network; adjusting a speed of transmissions overthe network to or from the user device; and altering a routing oftransmissions to or from the user device. In this method, the networkcan be partitioned so that the adjusted level of service quality isprovided by a first portion of the network having a predetermined levelof network resources. The adjusted level of service quality can comprisea first level while the user device is in the active state and a secondlevel while the user device is in the inactive state; the first level ishigher than the second level. The first level and the second level arelower than a level of service quality provided by a second portion ofthe network.

One or more aspects of the subject disclosure include a devicecomprising a processing system including a processor and a memory thatstores executable instructions. The instructions, when executed by theprocessing system, facilitate performance of operations. The operationscan comprise providing communications services over a network to a userdevice; obtaining information regarding capabilities of the user device;and obtaining information regarding a usage profile of the user device.The usage profile can include a periodic time interval during which theuser device is in an active state; the user device is in an inactivestate at other times. The operations can also comprise adjusting a levelof service quality provided to the user device, in accordance with atleast one of the capabilities and the usage profile. The level ofservice quality can be adjusted by performing at least one of adjustinga latency criterion regarding connection of the user device to thenetwork, adjusting a permitted number of transmissions from the userdevice per unit time, and altering a routing of transmissions to or fromthe user device. The network can be partitioned so that the adjustedlevel of service quality is provided by a first portion of the networkhaving a predetermined level of network resources; the adjusted level ofservice quality can comprise a first level while the user device is inthe active state and a second level while the user device is in theinactive state; the first level is higher than the second level. Thefirst level and the second level are lower than a level of servicequality provided by a second portion of the network.

One or more aspects of the subject disclosure include a machine-readablestorage medium comprising executable instructions that, when executed bya processing system including a processor, facilitate performance ofoperations. The operations can comprise providing communicationsservices over a network to a user device; obtaining informationregarding capabilities of the user device; and obtaining informationregarding a usage profile of the user device. The usage profile caninclude a periodic time interval during which the user device is in anactive state; the user device is in an inactive state at other times.The operations can also comprise adjusting a level of service qualityprovided to the user device, in accordance with at least one of thecapabilities and the usage profile. The level of service quality can beadjusted by performing at least one of adjusting a latency criterionregarding connection of the user device to the network; adjusting anassigned ratio of uplink to downlink transmissions performed by the userdevice; and altering a routing of transmissions to or from the userdevice. The network can be partitioned so that the adjusted level ofservice quality is provided by a first portion of the network having apredetermined level of network resources; the adjusted level of servicequality can comprise a first level while the user device is in theactive state and a second level while the user device is in the inactivestate; the first level is higher than the second level. The first leveland the second level are lower than a level of service quality providedby a second portion of the network.

FIG. 1 schematically illustrates an arrangement 100 in which IOT devicesconnect to a tunable network, according to an embodiment of thedisclosure. As shown in FIG. 1, the IOT devices 110 can include cameras,temperature sensors, humidity sensors, motion sensors, gas/vapordetectors, etc. In general, IOT devices transmit data representing someaspect of their immediate environment; in normal operation they might ormight not interact with a user. In this embodiment, a set of differentIOT devices communicate over various data paths (shown for simplicity asone wireless path 120) with a tunable network 150. Network 150 may beconfigured to provide each IOT device with communication servicesappropriate to capability and usage profiles of the device, as detailedbelow.

In an embodiment, network 150 is coupled to a server 160 that can managethe network to reduce cost (for example, limiting or delayingtransmissions to the IOT devices during times of network congestion).The combination of network 150 and server 160 may be viewed as aprocessing system 101 that is aware of IOT devices connected to thenetwork, and can configure network connections dynamically and/or ondemand to provide services to the IOT devices. In an embodiment, server160 can cause the network 150 to provide more or fewer resources to anIOT device or a group of IOT devices to meet specific customer needs. Inan embodiment, the system can comprise a home subscriber server (HSS).In general, network 150 can be configured dynamically to direct trafficto, and receive traffic from, IOT devices while controlling the cost ofprovisioning and serving the devices.

In an embodiment, network 150 is continuously monitored in order toassess its available capacity to serve one or more of the IOT devices110. In general, the cost of serving the IOT devices is lower duringperiods of relatively lower utilization (that is, periods of relativelyhigher available capacity).

FIG. 2 depicts a graph 200 showing how network utilization can vary withtime, in accordance with an embodiment of the disclosure. In anembodiment, the relative cost of operating an IOT device corresponds tothe latency tolerance of that device. For example, as shown in FIG. 2, adevice might attempt to connect to the network to transmit traffic attime t=0, when network utilization is relatively high. If the device hasa latency tolerance of (for example) 0.5 sec or less, the network mayrequire additional resources to respond to the device. Handling trafficfrom the device in this situation will therefore be relatively costly.

If the device can tolerate greater latency (that is, the system candelay responding to the device), traffic from the device can be handledat reduced cost. For example, as shown in FIG. 2, if the device attemptsa connection at t=0 but has a latency tolerance LT of 2 sec, the systemcan delay its response until t=2 sec when network utilization isapproximately one-third of that at t=0. In an embodiment, network 150offers connections for latency-tolerant devices so that the system canprioritize other traffic and process the IOT's traffic at times ofreduced congestion.

In an embodiment, the system handles traffic to and from IOT devicesduring periods of reduced network utilization. If a device attempts toaccess the network while the network is congested, the system canretrieve historical data for network utilization, predict a future timeof relatively low utilization, and transmit a signal to the devicesuggesting a time when the device should retry connecting.

In an embodiment, the network includes base stations for handlingwireless communications to and from the IOT devices; the base stationsinclude computing devices to monitor traffic to and from the IOTdevices. In this embodiment, a base station can predict a future timeinterval having reduced network utilization and delay communicationswith a device, subject to the device's latency tolerance.

FIG. 3 schematically illustrates an arrangement 300 in which IOT devicesconnect to a partitioned network, according to an embodiment of thedisclosure. As shown in FIG. 3, system 301 includes a partitionednetwork 350 and server 360. The partitions 351-355 of network 350include a low-cost partition 355 having fewer resources than partitions351-354. In an embodiment, IOT devices having a higher tolerance fordelay can be assigned to connect with nodes in the low-cost partition355. In another embodiment, partitioning of network 350 is performeddynamically as IOT devices are added or removed, so that each IOT deviceis provisioned with appropriate resources and can thus operate at areduced cost. In another embodiment, a partition other than the low-costpartition may be selected for connecting to the IOT devices (or aselected set of the IOT devices), so that a desired quality of servicelevel is provided.

FIG. 4 depicts an illustrative embodiment of a method 400 forconfiguring a tunable network to provide services to IOT devices. Inthis embodiment, one or more IOT devices, belonging to a customersubscribing to the network, transmit data over the network. In step 402,a system (for example, processing system 301) detects an IOT deviceconnected on the network. The system then discovers characteristics andcapabilities of the IOT device, and builds a profile for the device(step 404). In an embodiment, a data transmission from the deviceincludes an identifier for the device, which permits the system todetermine the device characteristics. For example, the device may becharacterized by a latency tolerance which is indexed to the identifierand stored in a database; the database can be remote from the server 360and accessible via the network 350. The system also builds a usageprofile for the device (step 406), based on historical network trafficdata. In an embodiment, the device transmits data only periodically; thedevice thus is in an active state for relatively brief, recurringperiods of time, and is in an inactive state at other times.

The system then configures the network (step 408) to provide a level ofservice quality to the device that best matches the device profiles andthe customer's cost preferences. For example, the system can specify anallowable delay for handling traffic from the device in accordance witha latency tolerance of the device, as shown in FIG. 2. The system canalso prescribe a maximum speed for data transmissions to or from thedevice. In an embodiment, the system provisions the device to use aparticular access point name (APN) which has a restriction on speed,allows a certain latency, etc. The system can also limit the device to acertain number of transmissions per unit time. In an embodiment, thislimitation itself changes with time, in accordance with an expectedstate (active/inactive) of the device.

The system can also establish a routing for the device so that trafficto or from the device is routed to a network node (or other part of thesystem) designed to accommodate a relatively large number of devicesprocessing relatively few transactions. (In an embodiment, this is doneby partitioning the network to identify nodes with relatively lowperformance per device that can connect to a relatively large number ofdevices.) In a particular embodiment, the device is routed to an HSSnode with greater latency tolerance than other nodes. In a furtherembodiment, the system (functioning as a service provider) dynamicallydowngrades the level of service in order to reach a cost levelpreviously set by the customer.

The system can also assign or restrict a ratio of uplink transmissionsto downlink transmissions performed by the device. In an embodiment, theIOT device traffic is primarily uplink (for example, the IOT device is asensor that typically sends sensory data and only occasionally receivescontrol data). The system then can recognize that such a device can usespare uplink capacity, which can sometimes be available at reduced cost.

In an embodiment, the system can provision the IOT device to receivenetwork services according to a specific quality of service classidentifier (QCI). The system can also be configured according toselections 407 transmitted from customer equipment; the service levelfor the IOT device (or a set of devices of the customer) can thus bechanged on demand.

In an embodiment, the system monitors network utilization and thus isaware of when the network has spare capacity for handling IOT devicetraffic. In this embodiment, the system can enable IOT devicetransmissions only when there is a certain level of excess capacityavailable.

The system then partitions the network (step 410) so that IOT devicesare connected to a portion of the network that delivers a level ofservice (with a cost of service) appropriate to the characteristics andusage of the devices. In an embodiment, the appropriate level of servicefor a device depends on whether the device is in an active or inactivestate (for example, depending on whether periodic transmission of datais occurring or expected to occur).

If the IOT device is determined to be in an active state (step 412), thesystem provides a level of service according to the networkconfiguration; in an embodiment, this corresponds to a first level ofservice provided by the low-cost partition of the network (step 414) andis a lower level of service than provided by other portions of thenetwork. If the IOT device is determined to be in the inactive state, asecond level of service lower than the first level is provided (step416).

If the system determines (step 418) that a higher level of service isneeded, the device connection can be re-routed to a network node withhigher performance (step 420). For example, the system can provision anIOT device with a performance upgrade, temporarily requiring a higherlevel of service to the device. In this embodiment, the system canre-assign the device to a different node for accessing the network or toa different network partition, to ensure that the upgrade is performedefficiently. In another embodiment, the customer can select a newnetwork configuration so that the IOT devices can handle an increasedvolume of traffic.

FIG. 5 shows a flowchart illustrating a procedure 500 in which an IOTdevice is in active and inactive states over a period of time, accordingto an embodiment of the disclosure. In this embodiment, it is desired totest the connectivity of the device (step 502) when it is manufacturedor is installed in a larger device (for example, a diagnostic sensorbeing installed in an automobile). The connectivity of the device isthus tested during the manufacturing process (step 504), but can thenbecome dormant while moving through the supply chain (step 506). In thisembodiment, a substantial length of time (>1 year) can elapse while thedevice remains in an inactive state, and the cost to support the deviceis relatively low throughout this period of time. For example, thedevice can be included in customer equipment (such as an automobile) andbe provisioned with an international mobile subscriber identity (IMSI)profile that does not correspond to the location of the device and/orthe data carrier used by the customer. However, when the device roamsinto the carrier's coverage area or the customer changes the carriercontract (steps 508-510), the device can enter its active state (step512). In an embodiment, the system locates the device and builds orupdates the device's characteristic and usage profiles. In anotherembodiment, the device includes a storage medium with an identifier andprofiles for the device, so that it can connect with the low-costpartition of the network and begin to transmit sensor data. In anotherembodiment, an IOT device included in new equipment transitions from itsinactive state to its active state when that equipment is put into usefor the first time, independent of location or movement of theequipment.

If the device does not require a higher level of service (step 514), thedevice connects (or remains connected) to the low-cost partition of thenetwork (step 516). In an embodiment, the system establishes a low-costnetwork partition that serves as a default access point for all IOTdevices (which in this embodiment can be defined as devices with aspecified maximum volume of data per transmission and/or a specifiedmaximum number of transmissions per unit time). If the device requires ahigher level of service (for example, an update for the device wasprescribed while the device was in its inactive state), the system candynamically adjust the routing of the device to a different node or adifferent partition of the network (step 518).

While for purposes of simplicity of explanation, the respectiveprocesses are shown and described as a series of blocks in FIGS. 4-5, itis to be understood and appreciated that the claimed subject matter isnot limited by the order of the blocks, as some blocks may occur indifferent orders and/or concurrently with other blocks from what isdepicted and described herein. Moreover, not all illustrated blocks maybe required to implement the methods described herein.

FIG. 6 depicts an illustrative embodiment of a first communicationsystem 600 for delivering media content. Communication system 600 can beoverlaid or operably coupled with system 100 of FIG. 1 and/or system 300of FIG. 3 as another representative embodiment of communication system600. For instance, one or both of networks 618, 632 shown in FIG. 6 canbe tunable as described above, and thus function as a tunable network150, 350. In particular embodiments, one or more devices illustrated inthe communication system 600 of FIG. 6 can comprise a processing systemthat facilitates performance of operations; the operations can compriseproviding communications services over a network to a user device;obtaining information regarding capabilities of the user device; andobtaining information regarding a usage profile of the user device. Theusage profile can include a periodic time interval during which the userdevice is in an active state; the user device is in an inactive state atother times. The operations can also comprise adjusting a level ofservice quality provided to the user device, in accordance with at leastone of the capabilities and the usage profile. The level of servicequality can be adjusted by performing at least one of adjusting alatency criterion regarding connection of the user device to thenetwork, adjusting a permitted number of transmissions from the userdevice per unit time, and altering a routing of transmissions to or fromthe user device. The network can be partitioned so that the adjustedlevel of service quality is provided by a first portion of the networkhaving a predetermined level of network resources; the adjusted level ofservice quality can comprise a first level while the user device is inthe active state and a second level while the user device is in theinactive state; the first level is higher than the second level. Thefirst level and the second level are lower than a level of servicequality provided by a second portion of the network.

The communication system 600 can represent an Internet ProtocolTelevision (IPTV) media system that can include a super head-end office(SHO) 610 with at least one super headend office server (SHS) 611 whichreceives media content from satellite and/or terrestrial communicationsystems. In the present context, media content can represent, forexample, audio content, moving image content such as 2D or 3D videos,video games, virtual reality content, still image content, andcombinations thereof. The SHS server 611 can forward packets associatedwith the media content to one or more video head-end servers (VHS) 614via a network of video head-end offices (VHO) 612 according to amulticast communication protocol.

The VHS 614 can distribute multimedia broadcast content via an accessnetwork 618 to commercial and/or residential buildings 602 housing agateway 604 (such as a residential or commercial gateway). The accessnetwork 618 can represent a group of digital subscriber line accessmultiplexers (DSLAMs) located in a central office or a service areainterface that provide broadband services over fiber optical links orcopper twisted pairs 619 to buildings 602. The gateway 604 can usecommunication technology to distribute broadcast signals to mediaprocessors 606 such as Set-Top Boxes (STBs) which in turn presentbroadcast channels to media devices 608 such as computers or televisionsets managed in some instances by a media controller 607 (such as aninfrared or RF remote controller). In an embodiment, a devicecommunicating with gateway 604 (for example, media device 608) canfunction as an IOT device as described above.

The gateway 604, the media processors 606, and media devices 608 canutilize tethered communication technologies (such as coaxial, powerlineor phone line wiring) or can operate over a wireless access protocolsuch as Wireless Fidelity (WiFi), Bluetooth®, Zigbee®, or other presentor next generation local or personal area wireless network technologies.By way of these interfaces, unicast communications can also be invokedbetween the media processors 606 and subsystems of the IPTV media systemfor services such as video-on-demand (VoD), browsing an electronicprogramming guide (EPG), or other infrastructure services.

A satellite broadcast television system 629 can be used in the mediasystem of FIG. 6. The satellite broadcast television system can beoverlaid, operably coupled with, or replace the IPTV system as anotherrepresentative embodiment of communication system 600. In thisembodiment, signals transmitted by a satellite 615 that include mediacontent can be received by a satellite dish receiver 631 coupled to thebuilding 602. Modulated signals received by the satellite dish receiver631 can be transferred to the media processors 606 for demodulating,decoding, encoding, and/or distributing broadcast channels to the mediadevices 608. The media processors 606 can be equipped with a broadbandport to a network 632 to enable interactive services such as VoD and EPGas described above.

In yet another embodiment, an analog or digital cable broadcastdistribution system such as cable TV system 633 can be overlaid,operably coupled with, or replace the IPTV system and/or the satelliteTV system as another representative embodiment of communication system600. In this embodiment, the cable TV system 633 can also provideInternet, telephony, and interactive media services. It will beappreciated that system 600 can enable various types of IOT devices, aswell as interactive television devices and/or services including IPTV,cable and/or satellite.

The subject disclosure can apply to other present or next generationover-the-air and/or landline media content services system.

Some of the network elements of the IPTV media system can be coupled toone or more computing devices 630, a portion of which can operate as aweb server for providing web portal services over the ISP network 632 towireline media devices 608 or wireless communication devices 616. Inparticular, computing device 630 can communicate with, and provideservices to, IOT device 641 via network 632.

Communication system 600 can also provide for all or a portion of thecomputing devices 630 to function as a server communicatively coupled tonetworks 150 or 350, or as a network manager for networks 150 or 350(herein referred to as server 630). The server 630 can use computing andcommunication technology to provision IOT devices, which can includeamong other things, the techniques described in methods 400-500 of FIGS.4-5. For instance, device routing performed by server 630 can be similarto routing by servers 160 and 360 of FIGS. 1 and 3 in accordance withmethods 400 and 500. The media processors 606 and wireless communicationdevices 616 can be provisioned with software functions to utilize theservices of server 630. For instance, media processors 606 and wirelesscommunication devices 616 can be used to transmit customer selections407 to system 301.

Multiple forms of media services can be offered to media devices overlandline technologies such as those described above. Additionally, mediaservices can be offered to media devices by way of a wireless accessbase station 617 operating according to common wireless access protocolssuch as Global System for Mobile or GSM, Code Division Multiple Accessor CDMA, Time Division Multiple Access or TDMA, Universal MobileTelecommunications or UMTS, World interoperability for Microwave orWiMAX, Software Defined Radio or SDR, Long Term Evolution or LTE, and soon. Other present and next generation wide area wireless access networktechnologies can be used in one or more embodiments of the subjectdisclosure.

FIG. 7 depicts an illustrative embodiment of a communication system 700employing an IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) network architecture tofacilitate the combined services of circuit-switched and packet-switchedsystems. Communication system 700 can be overlaid or operably coupledwith system 100 of FIG. 1 and/or system 300 of FIG. 3 and communicationsystem 600 as another representative embodiment of communication system600. In particular, server 630 (also shown in FIG. 6) can communicatewith IOT device 641 either directly or via network 632; in theembodiment shown in FIG. 7, server 630 communicates with network 632 viaIMS network 750, which itself may be a tunable network as describedabove. Accordingly, elements of system 700 can perform a methodcomprising providing, by a processing system including a processor,communications services over a network to a user device; obtaininginformation regarding capabilities of the user device; and obtaininginformation regarding a usage profile of the user device. The usageprofile can include a periodic time interval during which the userdevice is in an active state; the user device is in an inactive state atother times. The method can also comprise adjusting a level of servicequality provided to the user device, in accordance with at least one ofthe capabilities and the usage profile. The adjusting can be performedby at least one of adjusting a latency criterion regarding connection ofthe user device to the network; adjusting a speed of transmissions overthe network to or from the user device; and altering a routing oftransmissions to or from the user device. In this method, the networkcan be partitioned so that the adjusted level of service quality isprovided by a first portion of the network having a predetermined levelof network resources. The adjusted level of service quality can comprisea first level while the user device is in the active state and a secondlevel while the user device is in the inactive state; the first level ishigher than the second level. The first level and the second level arelower than a level of service quality provided by a second portion ofthe network.

Communication system 700 can comprise a Home Subscriber Server (HSS)740, a tElephone NUmber Mapping (ENUM) server 730, and other networkelements of an IMS network 750. The IMS network 750 can establishcommunications between IMS-compliant communication devices (CDs) 701,702, Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) CDs 703, 705, andcombinations thereof by way of a Media Gateway Control Function (MGCF)720 coupled to a PSTN network 760. The MGCF 720 need not be used when acommunication session involves IMS CD to IMS CD communications. Acommunication session involving at least one PSTN CD may utilize theMGCF 720.

IMS CDs 701, 702 can register with the IMS network 750 by contacting aProxy Call Session Control Function (P-CSCF) which communicates with aninterrogating CSCF (I-CSCF), which in turn, communicates with a ServingCSCF (S-CSCF) to register the CDs with the HSS 740. To initiate acommunication session between CDs, an originating IMS CD 701 can submita Session Initiation Protocol (SIP INVITE) message to an originatingP-CSCF 704 which communicates with a corresponding originating S-CSCF706. The originating S-CSCF 706 can submit the SIP INVITE message to oneor more application servers (ASs) 717 that can provide a variety ofservices to IMS subscribers.

For example, the application servers 717 can be used to performoriginating call feature treatment functions on the calling party numberreceived by the originating S-CSCF 706 in the SIP INVITE message.Originating treatment functions can include determining whether thecalling party number has international calling services, call IDblocking, calling name blocking, 7-digit dialing, and/or is requestingspecial telephony features (e.g., *72 forward calls, *73 cancel callforwarding, *67 for caller ID blocking, and so on). Based on initialfilter criteria (iFCs) in a subscriber profile associated with a CD, oneor more application servers may be invoked to provide various calloriginating feature services.

Additionally, the originating S-CSCF 706 can submit queries to the ENUMsystem 730 to translate an E.164 telephone number in the SIP INVITEmessage to a SIP Uniform Resource Identifier (URI) if the terminatingcommunication device is IMS-compliant. The SIP URI can be used by anInterrogating CSCF (I-CSCF) 707 to submit a query to the HSS 740 toidentify a terminating S-CSCF 714 associated with a terminating IMS CDsuch as reference 702. Once identified, the I-CSCF 707 can submit theSIP INVITE message to the terminating S-CSCF 714. The terminating S-CSCF714 can then identify a terminating P-CSCF 716 associated with theterminating CD 702. The P-CSCF 716 may then signal the CD 702 toestablish Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) communication services,thereby enabling the calling and called parties to engage in voiceand/or data communications. Based on the iFCs in the subscriber profile,one or more application servers may be invoked to provide various callterminating feature services, such as call forwarding, do not disturb,music tones, simultaneous ringing, sequential ringing, etc.

In some instances the aforementioned communication process issymmetrical. Accordingly, the terms “originating” and “terminating” inFIG. 7 may be interchangeable. It is further noted that communicationsystem 700 can be adapted to support video conferencing. In addition,communication system 700 can be adapted to provide the IMS CDs 701, 702with the multimedia and Internet services of communication system 600 ofFIG. 6.

If the terminating communication device is instead a PSTN CD such as CD703 or CD 705 (in instances where the cellular phone only supportscircuit-switched voice communications), the ENUM system 730 can respondwith an unsuccessful address resolution which can cause the originatingS-CSCF 706 to forward the call to the MGCF 720 via a Breakout GatewayControl Function (BGCF) 719. The MGCF 720 can then initiate the call tothe terminating PSTN CD over the PSTN network 760 to enable the callingand called parties to engage in voice and/or data communications.

It is further appreciated that the CDs of FIG. 7 can operate as wirelineor wireless devices. For example, the CDs of FIG. 7 can becommunicatively coupled to a cellular base station 721, a femtocell, aWiFi router, a Digital Enhanced Cordless Telecommunications (DECT) baseunit, or another suitable wireless access unit to establishcommunications with the IMS network 750 of FIG. 7. The cellular accessbase station 721 can operate according to common wireless accessprotocols such as GSM, CDMA, TDMA, UMTS, WiMax, SDR, LTE, and so on.Other present and next generation wireless network technologies can beused by one or more embodiments of the subject disclosure. Accordingly,multiple wireline and wireless communication technologies can be used bythe CDs of FIG. 7.

Cellular phones supporting LTE can support packet-switched voice andpacket-switched data communications and thus may operate asIMS-compliant mobile devices. In this embodiment, the cellular basestation 721 may communicate directly with the IMS network 750 as shownby the arrow connecting the cellular base station 721 and the P-CSCF716.

Alternative forms of a CSCF can operate in a device, system, component,or other form of centralized or distributed hardware and/or software.Indeed, a respective CSCF may be embodied as a respective CSCF systemhaving one or more computers or servers, either centralized ordistributed, where each computer or server may be configured to performor provide, in whole or in part, any method, step, or functionalitydescribed herein in accordance with a respective CSCF. Likewise, otherfunctions, servers and computers described herein, including but notlimited to, the HSS, the ENUM server, the BGCF, and the MGCF, can beembodied in a respective system having one or more computers or servers,either centralized or distributed, where each computer or server may beconfigured to perform or provide, in whole or in part, any method, step,or functionality described herein in accordance with a respectivefunction, server, or computer.

The server 630 of FIG. 6 can be operably coupled to communication system700 for purposes similar to those described above. Server 630 canperform device provisioning and data traffic handling services to theCDs 701, 702, 703 and 705 of FIG. 7 similar to the functions describedfor servers 160 and 360 of FIGS. 1 and 3 in accordance with methods400-500 of FIGS. 4-5. CDs 701, 702, 703 and 705 can be adapted withsoftware to utilize the services of the server 630. Server 630 can be anintegral part of the application server(s) 717, which can be adapted tothe operations of the IMS network 750. In an embodiment, network 750 canbe a tunable network as described above, while communication devices701-703 can function as, or include, IOT devices communicating with thetunable network.

For illustration purposes only, the terms S-CSCF, P-CSCF, I-CSCF, and soon, can be server devices, but may be referred to in the subjectdisclosure without the word “server.” It is also understood that anyform of a CSCF server can operate in a device, system, component, orother form of centralized or distributed hardware and software. It isfurther noted that these terms and other terms such as DIAMETER commandsare terms can include features, methodologies, and/or fields that may bedescribed in whole or in part by standards bodies such as 3^(rd)Generation Partnership Project (3GPP). It is further noted that some orall embodiments of the subject disclosure may in whole or in partmodify, supplement, or otherwise supersede final or proposed standardspublished and promulgated by 3GPP.

FIG. 8 depicts an illustrative embodiment of a web portal 802 of acommunication system 800. Communication system 800 can be overlaid oroperably coupled with system 100 of FIG. 1 and/or system 300 of FIG. 3,communication system 600, and/or communication system 700 as anotherrepresentative embodiment of system 100, system 300, communicationsystem 600, and/or communication system 700. For example, web portal 802can provide access to a variety of devices 810 including communicationdevices and/or IOT devices. The web portal 802 can thus be used formanaging services of system 100 and/or system 300 and communicationsystems 600-700. A web page of the web portal 802 can be accessed by aUniform Resource Locator (URL) with an Internet browser using anInternet-capable communication device such as those described in FIGS.1-3, 6 and 7. In an embodiment, the web portal 802 comprises anenterprise portal that can access IOT devices suitable for a commercialenvironment (temperature sensors, humidity sensors, etc.) In otherembodiments, the web portal 802 can be configured, for example, toaccess a media processor 606 and services managed thereby such as aDigital Video Recorder (DVR), a Video on Demand (VoD) catalog, anElectronic Programming Guide (EPG), or a personal catalog (such aspersonal videos, pictures, audio recordings, etc.) stored at the mediaprocessor 606. The web portal 802 can also be used for provisioning IMSservices described earlier, provisioning Internet services, provisioningcellular phone services, and so on.

The web portal 802 can further be utilized to manage and provisionsoftware applications in a software defined network (SDN) to adapt theseapplications as may be desired by subscribers and/or service providersof systems 100 and 300, and communication systems 600-700. For instance,users of the services provided by servers 160, 360 or 630 can log intotheir on-line accounts and provision the servers 160, 360 or 630 withprofiles of IOT devices, provide contact information to the server toenable it to communicate with the devices described in FIGS. 1-5, and soon. Service providers can log onto an administrator account toprovision, monitor and/or maintain systems 100 or 300, or server 630.

FIG. 9 depicts an illustrative embodiment of a communication device 900.Communication device 900 can serve in whole or in part as anillustrative embodiment of the devices depicted in FIGS. 1 and/or 3, andFIGS. 4-5 and can be configured to perform portions of method 400 and/ormethod 500 of FIGS. 4 and 5. In particular, device 900 can be configuredas an IOT device that includes a subset of the components shown in FIG.9 (for example, a combination of a transceiver, motion sensor,orientation sensor, controller, and power supply). In a specific IOTdevice, the sensors can instead comprise sensors for one or more oflight, sound, temperature, humidity, pressure, etc. For example, an IOTdevice can include a sensor 918, a controller 906 and a transceiver 902.

Communication device 900 can comprise a wireline and/or wirelesstransceiver 902 (herein transceiver 902), a user interface (UI) 904, apower supply 914, a location receiver 916, a motion sensor 918, anorientation sensor 920, and a controller 906 for managing operationsthereof. The transceiver 902 can support short-range or long-rangewireless access technologies such as Bluetooth®, ZigBee®, WiFi, DECT, orcellular communication technologies, just to mention a few (Bluetooth®and ZigBee® are trademarks registered by the Bluetooth® Special InterestGroup and the ZigBee® Alliance, respectively). Cellular technologies caninclude, for example, CDMA-1X, UMTS/HSDPA, GSM/GPRS, TDMA/EDGE, EV/DO,WiMAX, SDR, LTE, as well as other next generation wireless communicationtechnologies as they arise. The transceiver 902 can also be adapted tosupport circuit-switched wireline access technologies (such as PSTN),packet-switched wireline access technologies (such as TCP/IP, VoIP,etc.), and combinations thereof.

The UI 904 can include a depressible or touch-sensitive keypad 908 witha navigation mechanism such as a roller ball, a joystick, a mouse, or anavigation disk for manipulating operations of the communication device900. The keypad 908 can be an integral part of a housing assembly of thecommunication device 900 or an independent device operably coupledthereto by a tethered wireline interface (such as a USB cable) or awireless interface supporting for example Bluetooth®. The keypad 908 canrepresent a numeric keypad commonly used by phones, and/or a QWERTYkeypad with alphanumeric keys. The UI 904 can further include a display910 such as monochrome or color LCD (Liquid Crystal Display), OLED(Organic Light Emitting Diode) or other suitable display technology forconveying images to an end user of the communication device 900. In anembodiment where the display 910 is touch-sensitive, a portion or all ofthe keypad 908 can be presented by way of the display 910 withnavigation features.

The display 910 can use touch screen technology to also serve as a userinterface for detecting user input. As a touch screen display, thecommunication device 900 can be adapted to present a user interface withgraphical user interface (GUI) elements that can be selected by a userwith a touch of a finger. The touch screen display 910 can be equippedwith capacitive, resistive or other forms of sensing technology todetect how much surface area of a user's finger has been placed on aportion of the touch screen display. This sensing information can beused to control the manipulation of the GUI elements or other functionsof the user interface. The display 910 can be an integral part of thehousing assembly of the communication device 900 or an independentdevice communicatively coupled thereto by a tethered wireline interface(such as a cable) or a wireless interface.

The UI 904 can also include an audio system 912 that utilizes audiotechnology for conveying low volume audio (such as audio heard inproximity of a human ear) and high volume audio (such as speakerphonefor hands free operation). The audio system 912 can further include amicrophone for receiving audible signals of an end user. The audiosystem 912 can also be used for voice recognition applications. The UI904 can further include an image sensor 913 such as a charged coupleddevice (CCD) camera for capturing still or moving images.

The power supply 914 can utilize common power management technologiessuch as replaceable and rechargeable batteries, supply regulationtechnologies, and/or charging system technologies for supplying energyto the components of the communication device 900 to facilitatelong-range or short-range portable applications. Alternatively, or incombination, the charging system can utilize external power sources suchas DC power supplied over a physical interface such as a USB port orother suitable tethering technologies.

The location receiver 916 can utilize location technology such as aglobal positioning system (GPS) receiver capable of assisted GPS foridentifying a location of the communication device 900 based on signalsgenerated by a constellation of GPS satellites, which can be used forfacilitating location services such as navigation. The motion sensor 918can utilize motion sensing technology such as an accelerometer, agyroscope, or other suitable motion sensing technology to detect motionof the communication device 900 in three-dimensional space. Theorientation sensor 920 can utilize orientation sensing technology suchas a magnetometer to detect the orientation of the communication device900 (north, south, west, and east, as well as combined orientations indegrees, minutes, or other suitable orientation metrics).

The communication device 900 can use the transceiver 902 to alsodetermine a proximity to a cellular, WiFi, Bluetooth®, or other wirelessaccess points by sensing techniques such as utilizing a received signalstrength indicator (RSSI) and/or signal time of arrival (TOA) or time offlight (TOF) measurements. The controller 906 can utilize computingtechnologies such as a microprocessor, a digital signal processor (DSP),programmable gate arrays, application specific integrated circuits,and/or a video processor with associated storage memory such as Flash,ROM, RAM, SRAM, DRAM or other storage technologies for executingcomputer instructions, controlling, and processing data supplied by theaforementioned components of the communication device 900.

Other components not shown in FIG. 9 can be used in one or moreembodiments of the subject disclosure. For instance, the communicationdevice 900 can include a reset button (not shown). The reset button canbe used to reset the controller 906 of the communication device 900. Inyet another embodiment, the communication device 900 can also include afactory default setting button positioned, for example, below a smallhole in a housing assembly of the communication device 900 to force thecommunication device 900 to re-establish factory settings. In thisembodiment, a user can use a protruding object such as a pen or paperclip tip to reach into the hole and depress the default setting button.The communication device 900 can also include a slot for adding orremoving an identity module such as a Subscriber Identity Module (SIM)card. SIM cards can be used for identifying subscriber services,executing programs, storing subscriber data, and so forth.

The communication device 900 as described herein can operate with moreor less of the circuit components shown in FIG. 9. These variantembodiments can be used in one or more embodiments of the subjectdisclosure.

The communication device 900 can be adapted to perform the functions ofdevices of FIGS. 1 and/or 3, the media processor 606, the media devices608, or the portable communication devices 616 of FIG. 6, as well as theIMS CDs 701-702 and PSTN CDs 703-705 of FIG. 7. It will be appreciatedthat the communication device 900 can also represent other devices thatcan operate in systems 100, 300, and/or communication systems 600-700,such as a gaming console and a media player. In addition, the controller906 can be adapted in various embodiments to perform network monitoringand provisioning functions.

Upon reviewing the aforementioned embodiments, it would be evident to anartisan with ordinary skill in the art that said embodiments can bemodified, reduced, or enhanced without departing from the scope of theclaims described below. For example, in cases where IOT devicescommunicate over the network intermittently (e.g. sending a statusreport once per day), network services can be made available to suchdevices at pre-scheduled times, with the time of actual transmissiondynamically adjusted to occur when network traffic is reduced and excesscapacity is available.

In another embodiment, a system provider communicates with a customerover a software-defined network to enable a communication for thecustomer's specific needs, which may be unique to that communication.The customer thus can obtain the desired services dynamically, asopposed to the customer using services prescribed by his rate plan.Other embodiments can be used in the subject disclosure.

It should be understood that devices described in the exemplaryembodiments can be in communication with each other via various wirelessand/or wired methodologies. The methodologies can be links that aredescribed as coupled, connected and so forth, which can includeunidirectional and/or bidirectional communication over wireless pathsand/or wired paths that utilize one or more of various protocols ormethodologies, where the coupling and/or connection can be direct (e.g.,no intervening processing device) and/or indirect (e.g., an intermediaryprocessing device such as a router).

FIG. 10 depicts an exemplary diagrammatic representation of a machine inthe form of a computer system 1000 within which a set of instructions,when executed, may cause the machine to perform any one or more of themethods described above. One or more instances of the machine canoperate, for example, as the server 160, the server 360, the server 630,and other devices of FIGS. 1-5. In some embodiments, the machine may beconnected (e.g., using a network 1026) to other machines. In particular,network 1026 can be a tunable network as described above, communicatingwith various IOT devices. In a networked deployment, the machine mayoperate in the capacity of a server or a client user machine in aserver-client user network environment, or as a peer machine in apeer-to-peer (or distributed) network environment.

The machine may comprise a server computer, a client user computer, apersonal computer (PC), a tablet, a smart phone, a laptop computer, adesktop computer, a control system, a network router, switch or bridge,or any machine capable of executing a set of instructions (sequential orotherwise) that specify actions to be taken by that machine. It will beunderstood that a communication device of the subject disclosureincludes broadly any electronic device that provides voice, video ordata communication. Further, while a single machine is illustrated, theterm “machine” shall also be taken to include any collection of machinesthat individually or jointly execute a set (or multiple sets) ofinstructions to perform any one or more of the methods discussed herein.

The computer system 1000 may include a processor (or controller) 1002(e.g., a central processing unit (CPU)), a graphics processing unit(GPU, or both), a main memory 1004 and a static memory 1006, whichcommunicate with each other via a bus 1008. The computer system 1000 mayfurther include a display unit 1010 (e.g., a liquid crystal display(LCD), a flat panel, or a solid state display). The computer system 1000may include an input device 1012 (e.g., a keyboard), a cursor controldevice 1014 (e.g., a mouse), a disk drive unit 1016, a signal generationdevice 1018 (e.g., a speaker or remote control) and a network interfacedevice 1020. In distributed environments, the embodiments described inthe subject disclosure can be adapted to utilize multiple display units1010 controlled by two or more computer systems 1000. In thisconfiguration, presentations described by the subject disclosure may inpart be shown in a first of the display units 1010, while the remainingportion is presented in a second of the display units 1010.

The disk drive unit 1016 may include a tangible computer-readablestorage medium 1022 on which is stored one or more sets of instructions(e.g., software 1024) embodying any one or more of the methods orfunctions described herein, including those methods illustrated above.The instructions 1024 may also reside, completely or at least partially,within the main memory 1004, the static memory 1006, and/or within theprocessor 1002 during execution thereof by the computer system 1000. Themain memory 1004 and the processor 1002 also may constitute tangiblecomputer-readable storage media.

Dedicated hardware implementations including, but not limited to,application specific integrated circuits, programmable logic arrays andother hardware devices can likewise be constructed to implement themethods described herein. Application specific integrated circuits andprogrammable logic array can use downloadable instructions for executingstate machines and/or circuit configurations to implement embodiments ofthe subject disclosure. Applications that may include the apparatus andsystems of various embodiments broadly include a variety of electronicand computer systems. Some embodiments implement functions in two ormore specific interconnected hardware modules or devices with relatedcontrol and data signals communicated between and through the modules,or as portions of an application-specific integrated circuit. Thus, theexample system is applicable to software, firmware, and hardwareimplementations.

In accordance with various embodiments of the subject disclosure, theoperations or methods described herein are intended for operation assoftware programs or instructions running on or executed by a computerprocessor or other computing device, and which may include other formsof instructions manifested as a state machine implemented with logiccomponents in an application specific integrated circuit or fieldprogrammable gate array. Furthermore, software implementations (e.g.,software programs, instructions, etc.) including, but not limited to,distributed processing or component/object distributed processing,parallel processing, or virtual machine processing can also beconstructed to implement the methods described herein. It is furthernoted that a computing device such as a processor, a controller, a statemachine or other suitable device for executing instructions to performoperations or methods may perform such operations directly or indirectlyby way of one or more intermediate devices directed by the computingdevice.

While the tangible computer-readable storage medium 1022 is shown in anexample embodiment to be a single medium, the term “tangiblecomputer-readable storage medium” should be taken to include a singlemedium or multiple media (e.g., a centralized or distributed database,and/or associated caches and servers) that store the one or more sets ofinstructions. The term “tangible computer-readable storage medium” shallalso be taken to include any non-transitory medium that is capable ofstoring or encoding a set of instructions for execution by the machineand that cause the machine to perform any one or more of the methods ofthe subject disclosure. The term “non-transitory” as in a non-transitorycomputer-readable storage includes without limitation memories, drives,devices and anything tangible but not a signal per se.

The term “tangible computer-readable storage medium” shall accordinglybe taken to include, but not be limited to: solid-state memories such asa memory card or other package that houses one or more read-only(non-volatile) memories, random access memories, or other re-writable(volatile) memories, a magneto-optical or optical medium such as a diskor tape, or other tangible media which can be used to store information.Accordingly, the disclosure is considered to include any one or more ofa tangible computer-readable storage medium, as listed herein andincluding art-recognized equivalents and successor media, in which thesoftware implementations herein are stored.

Although the present specification describes components and functionsimplemented in the embodiments with reference to particular standardsand protocols, the disclosure is not limited to such standards andprotocols. Each of the standards for Internet and other packet switchednetwork transmission (e.g., TCP/IP, UDP/IP, HTML, HTTP) representexamples of the state of the art. Such standards are from time-to-timesuperseded by faster or more efficient equivalents having essentiallythe same functions. Wireless standards for device detection (e.g.,RFID), short-range communications (e.g., Bluetooth®, WiFi, Zigbee®), andlong-range communications (e.g., WiMAX, GSM, CDMA, LTE) can be used bycomputer system 1000. In one or more embodiments, information regardinguse of services can be generated including services being accessed,media consumption history, user preferences, and so forth. Thisinformation can be obtained by various methods including user input,detecting types of communications (e.g., video content vs. audiocontent), analysis of content streams, and so forth. The generating,obtaining and/or monitoring of this information can be responsive to anauthorization provided by the user.

The illustrations of embodiments described herein are intended toprovide a general understanding of the structure of various embodiments,and they are not intended to serve as a complete description of all theelements and features of apparatus and systems that might make use ofthe structures described herein. Many other embodiments will be apparentto those of skill in the art upon reviewing the above description. Theexemplary embodiments can include combinations of features and/or stepsfrom multiple embodiments. Other embodiments may be utilized and derivedtherefrom, such that structural and logical substitutions and changesmay be made without departing from the scope of this disclosure. Figuresare also merely representational and may not be drawn to scale. Certainproportions thereof may be exaggerated, while others may be minimized.Accordingly, the specification and drawings are to be regarded in anillustrative rather than a restrictive sense.

Although specific embodiments have been illustrated and describedherein, it should be appreciated that any arrangement which achieves thesame or similar purpose may be substituted for the embodiments describedor shown by the subject disclosure. The subject disclosure is intendedto cover any and all adaptations or variations of various embodiments.Combinations of the above embodiments, and other embodiments notspecifically described herein, can be used in the subject disclosure.For instance, one or more features from one or more embodiments can becombined with one or more features of one or more other embodiments. Inone or more embodiments, features that are positively recited can alsobe negatively recited and excluded from the embodiment with or withoutreplacement by another structural and/or functional feature. The stepsor functions described with respect to the embodiments of the subjectdisclosure can be performed in any order. The steps or functionsdescribed with respect to the embodiments of the subject disclosure canbe performed alone or in combination with other steps or functions ofthe subject disclosure, as well as from other embodiments or from othersteps that have not been described in the subject disclosure. Further,more than or less than all of the features described with respect to anembodiment can also be utilized.

Less than all of the steps or functions described with respect to theexemplary processes or methods can also be performed in one or more ofthe exemplary embodiments. Further, the use of numerical terms todescribe a device, component, step or function, such as first, second,third, and so forth, is not intended to describe an order or functionunless expressly stated so. The use of the terms first, second, thirdand so forth, is generally to distinguish between devices, components,steps or functions unless expressly stated otherwise. Additionally, oneor more devices or components described with respect to the exemplaryembodiments can facilitate one or more functions, where the facilitating(e.g., facilitating access or facilitating establishing a connection)can include less than every step needed to perform the function or caninclude all of the steps needed to perform the function.

In one or more embodiments, a processor (which can include a controlleror circuit) has been described that performs various functions. Itshould be understood that the processor can be multiple processors,which can include distributed processors or parallel processors in asingle machine or multiple machines. The processor can be used insupporting a virtual processing environment. The virtual processingenvironment may support one or more virtual machines representingcomputers, servers, or other computing devices. In such virtualmachines, components such as microprocessors and storage devices may bevirtualized or logically represented. The processor can include a statemachine, application specific integrated circuit, and/or programmablegate array including a Field PGA. In one or more embodiments, when aprocessor executes instructions to perform “operations”, this caninclude the processor performing the operations directly and/orfacilitating, directing, or cooperating with another device or componentto perform the operations.

The Abstract of the Disclosure is provided with the understanding thatit will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of theclaims. In addition, in the foregoing Detailed Description, it can beseen that various features are grouped together in a single embodimentfor the purpose of streamlining the disclosure. This method ofdisclosure is not to be interpreted as reflecting an intention that theclaimed embodiments require more features than are expressly recited ineach claim. Rather, as the following claims reflect, inventive subjectmatter lies in less than all features of a single disclosed embodiment.Thus the following claims are hereby incorporated into the DetailedDescription, with each claim standing on its own as a separately claimedsubject matter.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method comprising: providing, by a processingsystem including a processor, communications services over a network toa user device; obtaining, by the processing system, informationregarding capabilities of the user device; obtaining, by the processingsystem, information regarding a usage profile of the user device,wherein the usage profile includes a periodic time interval during whichthe user device is in an active state, the user device being in aninactive state at other times; adjusting, by the processing system, alevel of service quality provided to the user device, in accordance withat least one of the capabilities and the usage profile, by performing atleast one of: adjusting a latency criterion regarding connection of theuser device to the network, adjusting a speed of transmissions over thenetwork to or from the user device, and altering a routing of thetransmissions to or from the user device; determining, by the processingsystem, a level of excess capacity of the network for accommodating thetransmissions over the network to or from the user device; and enabling,by the processing system, the transmissions only when the level ofexcess capacity exceeds a predetermined level, wherein the network ispartitioned so that the adjusted level of service quality is provided bya first portion of the network having a predetermined level of networkresources, the adjusted level of service quality comprising a firstlevel while the user device is in the active state and a second levelwhile the user device is in the inactive state, the first level beinghigher than the second level, and wherein the first level and the secondlevel are lower than a level of service quality provided by a secondportion of the network.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein thecommunications services are provided according to a quality of serviceclass defined by a network administrator, and wherein the level ofservice quality provided to the user device is reduced responsive to arequest from the user device.
 3. The method of claim 2, wherein thefirst portion of the network comprises a node having a performanceprofile in accordance with the reduced level of service quality, andwherein the second portion of the network comprises a remainder of thenetwork.
 4. The method of claim 3, wherein the node is configured toprovide access to the network by a first number of user devices, andwherein the first number is greater than a second number of user devicesaccommodated at a second node in the second portion of the network. 5.The method of claim 1, further comprising: monitoring, by the processingsystem, a level of network utilization for the network.
 6. The method ofclaim 5, further comprising: receiving, by the processing system, arequest from the user device for connection to the network; andproviding, by the processing system, a response to the request, whereinthe response is delayed relative to the request in accordance with theadjusted latency criterion so that the response is provided when thelevel of network utilization is lower than at a time of receiving therequest.
 7. The method of claim 1, wherein the adjusting the level ofservice quality comprises adjusting, by the processing system, anassigned ratio of uplink to downlink transmissions performed by the userdevice.
 8. The method of claim 1, wherein the adjusting the level ofservice quality comprises adjusting, by the processing system, apermitted number of transmissions from the user device per unit time. 9.The method of claim 1, wherein the usage profile includes historicaldata regarding the transmissions over the network to or from the userdevice, and further comprising predicting, by the processing system, atransition of the user device between the active state and the inactivestate based on the historical data.
 10. The method of claim 1, whereinthe user device is in the active state in order to test connectivity tothe network during a manufacturing process of the user device, andsubsequently enters the inactive state.
 11. A device comprising: aprocessing system including a processor; and a memory that storesexecutable instructions that, when executed by the processing system,facilitate performance of operations comprising: providingcommunications services over a network to a user device; obtaininginformation regarding capabilities of the user device; obtaininginformation regarding a usage profile of the user device, wherein theusage profile includes a periodic time interval during which the userdevice is in an active state, the user device being in an inactive stateat other times; adjusting a level of service quality provided to theuser device, in accordance with at least one of the capabilities and theusage profile, by performing at least one of: adjusting a latencycriterion regarding connection of the user device to the network,adjusting a permitted number of transmissions from the user device perunit time, and altering a routing of the transmissions to or from theuser device; determining a level of excess capacity of the network foraccommodating the transmissions over the network to or from the userdevice; and enabling the transmissions only when the level of excesscapacity exceeds a predetermined level, wherein the network ispartitioned so that the adjusted level of service quality is provided bya first portion of the network having a predetermined level of networkresources, the adjusted level of service quality comprising a firstlevel while the user device is in the active state and a second levelwhile the user device is in the inactive state, the first level beinghigher than the second level, and wherein the first level and the secondlevel are lower than a level of service quality provided by a secondportion of the network.
 12. The device of claim 11, wherein thecommunications services are provided according to a quality of serviceclass defined by a network administrator, and wherein the level ofservice quality provided to the user device is reduced responsive to arequest from the user device.
 13. The device of claim 11, wherein theoperations further comprise: monitoring a level of network utilizationfor the network.
 14. The device of claim 13, wherein the operationsfurther comprise: receiving a request from the user device forconnection to the network; and providing a response to the request,wherein the response is delayed relative to the request in accordancewith the adjusted latency criterion so that the response is providedwhen the level of network utilization is lower than at a time ofreceiving the request.
 15. The device of claim 11, wherein the adjustingthe level of service quality comprises adjusting, by the processingsystem, an assigned ratio of uplink to downlink transmissions performedby the user device.
 16. A machine-readable storage medium comprisingexecutable instructions that, when executed by a processing systemincluding a processor, facilitate performance of operations comprising:providing communications services over a network to a user device;obtaining information regarding capabilities of the user device;obtaining information regarding a usage profile of the user device,wherein the usage profile includes a periodic time interval during whichthe user device is in an active state, the user device being in aninactive state at other times; and adjusting a level of service qualityprovided to the user device, in accordance with at least one of thecapabilities and the usage profile, by performing at least one of:adjusting a latency criterion regarding connection of the user device tothe network, adjusting an assigned ratio of uplink to downlinktransmissions performed by the user device, and altering a routing oftransmissions to or from the user device; determining a level of excesscapacity of the network for accommodating the transmissions over thenetwork to or from the user device; and enabling the transmissions onlywhen the level of excess capacity exceeds a predetermined level, whereinthe network is partitioned so that the adjusted level of service qualityis provided by a first portion of the network having a predeterminedlevel of network resources, the adjusted level of service qualitycomprising a first level while the user device is in the active stateand a second level while the user device is in the inactive state, thefirst level being higher than the second level, and wherein the firstlevel and the second level are lower than a level of service qualityprovided by a second portion of the network.
 17. The machine-readablestorage medium of claim 16, wherein the communications services areprovided according to a quality of service class defined by a networkadministrator, and wherein the level of service quality provided to theuser device is reduced responsive to a request from the user device. 18.The machine-readable storage medium of claim 16, wherein the firstportion of the network comprises a node having a performance profile inaccordance with the reduced level of service quality, and wherein thesecond portion of the network comprises a remainder of the network. 19.The machine-readable storage medium of claim 16, wherein the adjustingthe level of service quality comprises adjusting a permitted number oftransmissions from the user device per unit time.
 20. Themachine-readable storage medium of claim 16, wherein the usage profileincludes historical data regarding the transmissions over the network toor from the user device, and wherein the operations further comprisepredicting a transition of the user device between the active state andthe inactive state based on the historical data.